Day 130 - El Dorado

September 8th
(Ursula) The restaurant operation started relatively early on this Sunday morning. Corn cubs were steaming in large pots, and a pig roasted over an open fire pit in the front yard. Little by little, the place filled with people for the lunch feast. The owners brought us coffee and a large bag of fruits before we drove off.

People are so friendly in Venezuela. We had never been refused or felt reluctance when we asked for a favor. I don’t even want to think about the reaction one would get on that subject in Switzerland.

(Heinz) And off we drove in the direction of El Dorado. The road signs were confusing in Ciudad Guayana, and we had to ask for directions. The person who helped us out was a Swiss named Emil Schmidt. What a coincidence!

Emil was a geologist, and we learned from him that the region was rich in gold and diamonds. Most mining places were deep in the rainforest and difficult to exploit. The other challenge, Emil explained, was to find a company that was willing to finance the mining and get the necessary permits from the State. There was also much corruption and politics going on. In addition, the President of the Republic changed every five years, and with that, regulations were constantly changing.

Emil told us about a fatal accident of young Swiss canoeing in the jungle and perishing down a cataract. He was only 28 and wanted to raise a camp for tourists. The young man knew the river well. Emil suspects there was foul play from a competitor involved. But there is no proof.

We were able to camp on the river bank by Emil’s house.

Stats: Miles 241, Expenses $14.40Read more